Take It or Leave It

Today I had someone tell me, "We're bad influences. We're bad influences on everyone and we'll be a bad influence on you too!" This was said with a mixture of confidence and sarcasm. It crossed my mind to not respond at all, but my child was watching. I simply responded, "No. You won't be able to influence me." It was a strange exchange for sure, one that my husband and I chatted about for quite a while this evening.

I think the two ladies who made their very assertive remarks were a bit taken aback at my response. Certainly my response was not made out of a poor attitude or arrogance. My response was really made more for the benefit of my son than for those who made the original comment. You see, I want my son to know that it is not only okay to be completely sure of your beliefs and standards, it is good and right to live them out with assurance and confidence. Could this be misinterpreted as arrogance? In our politically correct, let's-not-stand-for-anything society, assertion of beliefs can sometimes be misinterpreted. Heaven forbid we actually draw a line in the sand. But is it not somewhat arrogant to assert that you have the power to be a bad influence on any and everyone?

If you know me, you know my heart and intention is not arrogance at all. Yet you also know that I believe what I believe and that won't change regardless of whose company surrounds me. My beliefs and standards are the same whether I am at church, work, social/family gatherings or any other setting. Years ago a verse in Galatians jumped out at me and had a huge impact on my life. Galatians 1:10 "Am I trying to win the approval of human beings or of God? Am I trying to please people? If I am trying to please people, I am not a servant of Christ." In other words, trying to keep everyone pleased with you at the expense of pleasing God is just flat wrong. Because I believe the Bible to be completely true and accurate, I must live by the truth of The Gospel. If you do not choose to believe in God's Word, I certainly do not hold you to this standard. On the other hand, if you do claim the name of Christ, you are held to this standard not by me but by God.

My precious friend Jen and I have been talking quite a lot about living authentic lives, lives that truly reflect our belief in God's Word. As a Christian, there are certain standards God holds all Christians to. I believe Galatians 1:10 tells us that we are not to be "chameleons." In other words, if we have one set of speech and actions for one group of people and a different set of speech for another set of people we are not living authentic lives. If a person can easily transition from speaking "God-speak" to then speaking of their favorite method for attaining drunkenness, using foul language or pursuing a lifestyle that is clearly not within the perimeters of Biblical freedom (sex outside of marriage, dishonest business practices, racist attitudes, abusive actions, etc) I would dare say this is not an authentic lifestyle. Let me be abundantly clear that I do not hold those who do not claim the name of Christian to these beliefs anymore than my Jewish friends hold me to a standard of a Kosher diet. But what I do expect out of people is authenticity and consistency.

I have several friends who are not Christians. The reason we can maintain a friendship is because they do not try to change my beliefs and I do not try to force mine upon them. I simply live my life unapologetically and as consistently as God graciously allows me. Should any of my friends have questions about my beliefs I think they know the line of communication is always open.

Back to the 2 ladies I met yesterday...I think they were a little surprised at my response. To be completely honest, I was quite surprised at their eagerness to proclaim how bad of an influence they could be. However, we all ended up having a very nice meal together and had some wonderful conversation. I doubt our paths will cross again, but should the opportunity arise I would gladly welcome conversation with them. And because I love Jesus so much and am so thankful for all He has done in my life, if either of these ladies should want to ask questions I would be more than happy to answer.

"If you do not stand for something, you'll fall for anything."

Charlie Brown

I've noticed a disturbing trend in the last few days...a lack of Christmas Spirit. It seems that conditions are less than perfect for encouraging the Christmas Spirit. For some, this means all of the correct people are not in place, for others this means the weather is not cooperating with dreams of snowy white Christmases and for others it seems like just a general spirit of ennui. It's all very Charlie Brown-esque.

I will freely admit the Christmas spirit has almost illuded me this season too. On this first day of winter, my car registered 75 degrees and the day was overcast and muggy. I don't know as though we've had any 'cold, crisp' days this year. I love singing and, due to a nasty cold, have not been able to sing since Thanksgiving. There has been no caroling for me, no singing along with Bing and The Andrews Sisters and no duets with Ella Fitzgerald. Our tree has been a bit of a disappointment as well. It looked gorgeous when we first brought it home, but with 3 days until Christmas the bottom branches are drooping and nearly bare of all needles. What a Charlie Brown Christmas, indeed!

But then I look at my own little Linus (aka Jackson) and see the light in his eyes as he looks at our tree with joy and wonder, as he explains Christmas to his baby brother and as he daily dictates his "what I know about Jesus" entries for his Advent calendar. I am reminded of what Linus tells Charlie Brown, "And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, 'Fear not: for behold, I bring unto you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the City of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.' And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God, and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.' That's what Christmas is all about Charlie Brown."

Indeed, that is what, and WHO, Christmas is all about. Merry Christmas!

Thirty One

I celebrated my 31st birthday earlier this week. Birthdays do not usually make me very reflective and I wouldn't say that this birthday has brought lots of deep reflection, but it has brought more than the usual. In thinking of the number 31, my first thought is of the very famous 31st chapter of Proverbs. In this passage, King Lemuel's mother describes the type of woman her son should pursue. Most Christian women use this passage as a measuring stick of sorts for their own lives. But what really got me thinking is that this advice is from a mother to her son. I have sons. Certainly I would desire a Proverbs 31 woman for my sons. What is the best way to teach a child? By reciting words over and over? No. The best way to teach a child is to show him. I must show my sons what a Proverbs 31 acts like and looks like in the way I live my life each day. Do I bring good to my husband in every way? (v. 12) Do I extend my hands to the needy? (v. 20) Do I speak wisdom? (v. 26) This is a short glimpse into the questions I am challenging myself with this week and for the weeks to come.

I look forward to my 31st year with excitement, joy and much gratitude. Praise God from Whom all blessings flow.

Empty Ambulances

This week has been a week of reflection for me as I'm sure it has been for most Americans. The ten years that have passed since the horrible events of 9/11 have been, at times, painfully slow and at other times, far too fast. Like most, I don't know as though I have fully digested the impact of that day. Most of the details of the day are seared into my mind as if it were just yesterday.

Ironically enough, by dear friend Sarah and I were planning our upcoming trip to NYC when we saw the news coverage of the first plane. We sat in absolute shock as we watched the rest of the horrible morning unfold; events and images that none of us will ever forget. One of the most powerfully sad images was that of the many paramedics and ambulances waiting to take survivors to the hospital and yet the vast majority of those ambulances remained empty. Those empty ambulances became a physical depiction of the helplessness we all felt. So many lives lost.

But let us remember those days after 9/11. The unity we felt, the sense of patriotism, the kindness shown to strangers. We were a grieving family and we were determined to hold each other up through our grief. May we never forget that we are a strong and powerful country when we are united with each other. May we also never forget that, in our despair, confusion, grief and helplessness, we turned to God. Churches were full and we sought His help, His love and His comfort. Let us never forget Him.

O beautiful for heroes proved
In liberating strife
Who more than self their country loved
And mercy more than life
America! America!
God shed His grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!

Throw Back: 1996

When I saw today's blog challenge prompt from Lisa at heysparky.wordpress.com, I had no intention of fulfilling the prompt. The prompt? "If you could meet your sixteen year old self, what would you tell her?" Really, Lisa? You want me to expose that much of myself on a BLOG? But thinking through this prompt throughout the day has been a good exercise in reflection and gratitude.

Sixteen wasn't a horrible age for me; I did quite well in school, followed my parents' rules and was active in my church. However, I was not content. Although I did well in school, I hated it. Make no mistake, I loved academics but I hated all of the high school drama. I never really felt like I fit in with any group and felt really lonely quite a lot of the time. In one of several incidents, one group of "friends" convinced me that another "friend" was pregnant and distraught and could I please go comfort her and pray for her. So, with great compassion in my heart I did just that. Little did I know they were all making fun of me and having a good laugh at my expense. The girl was not pregnant, they apparently just wanted to see what I would do. These incidents made me feel all the more alone. Not my favorite social years.

Even though those high school years weren't my favorite, there's not much that I would change about them. The Lord greatly protected me from many things during those years- drugs, alcohol, sex, laziness, etc. So what would I tell my 16 year old self as I approach 31? I'd most likely keep it simple- trust the Lord more and wait patiently for Him. He's about to give you some of the best friends you will ever have. He also sees the tears you cry in your loneliness and He understands. Focus more on Him and less on yourself. Oh! And when you meet a guy (who is far too old for you) in a few months, RUN as fast as you can in the opposite direction! He's going to make you even less content during your 17th year. (And your 18/19th years too. RUN!!!)

It's My Birthday!! (In 18 days)

I missed yesterday's entry for my week-long blog challenge. In my defense, it was a really hectic day. Today's prompt? A birthday haiku! Here goes:

Wake up thirty one
Certainly eat some choc-late
Hope I get a song

I will now humbly accept my Pulitzer Prize for Literature.

Sticks And Stones

I did something that I haven't done is quite a long time last Saturday. Calm down, it's nothing too crazy, merely a trip to the movie theater. My friend and I went to see "The Help." (Worry not, this post is not a movie review!) There are only a handful of movies that really cause me to pause and consider the hidden applications within the characters and story-line. This particular movie joins that list.

One of the many take-home lessons for me was the power of affirming words. This is an issue that has been on my heart and mind for some time now, especially whilst in the throws of motherhood. One of the characters is a little girl whose mother shows little to no interest in her. However, her nanny repeatedly says to her, "You is kind. You is smart. You is important." Those words of affirmation create a very special bond between the two. Unlike the little girl in the movie, my parents always took great interest in me and showered me with words of love and affirmation. However, I can clearly remember some very hurtful and unkind words that were hurled at me over the course of years. I clearly remember the boy in high school who told me (and not just once), "You think you can sing, but you really suck." I can also remember the girl in chorus who, when I stood to audition for a solo part, said to me, "Sit down, trash." But the incident that hurt me the most was when a very trusted person in my life hurled the most hurtful and piercing insult imaginable at me. The words were so painful that the very thought of them stirs emotions in me that are, to this day, very painful. He has long since apologized and I have forgiven him, but 8 years later the words still haunt me and as much as I'd like to forget them, I can't.

Words are extremely powerful. Words have the ability to breathe life into a person or cut them down at the knees. Were it not for the loving and kind words I received from my parents, I'm fairly certain that the hurtful words of my past would have cut me down and changed who I am. I once heard a story of a young woman from a very poor village in Zimbabwe. She was married off at a disturbingly young age and was also illiterate. She eventually came into contact with a Western missionary. She expressed a desire for literacy to this missionary but she was afraid that she was not smart enough. People had told her that girls certainly weren't capable of learning to read. The missionary told her that she was most certainly capable of learning to read and could do wonderful things with her life. As this woman recounts, those were the first affirming words she can remember hearing. The woman now holds a PhD from a well respected institution and has built a successful school in her former village. She credits her accomplishments to those encouraging words. Words are powerful.

The Bible tells us to speak with words of grace to one another. (Col 4:6) I'm sure I am guilty of using words in a way that isn't gracious and I would take those words back in a heartbeat if I could. Yet, we are not given the privilege of rewinding life and deleting words that spilled from our mouths. We are, thankfully, given new mercies each morning. New mercies that allow us to look at ourselves and do differently and do better. It is my personal conviction that my words must be guarded more carefully. My words must be words that breathe life and encourage, even when dealing with the frustrations of life; furthermore, not every thought that comes into my head needs to come out of my mouth. I'll be the first to admit that isn't always easy!

One can never be certain of how powerful his or her words can be in another person's life. May I never forget that truth. "Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones." Proverbs 16:24

Top Ten Things I'll Never Understand

1. Hoarding. Umm...gross.
2. Stuff on your car's dashboard. Be it paperwork, trash or stuffed animals, I just don't get it.
3. Bushy eyebrows.
4. Socks with sandals.
5. Misspelling common words in the age of spellcheck. (Tomorrow, definitely and separate would top that list.)
6. Driving 10 MPH under the speed limit.
7. Male athletes who pop each other's butts.
8. Smoking.
9. Breaking stuff when you're ticked off. Seriously, once you've cooled off you're going to have to clean up the mess, which just might tick you back off and you might even have to replace the stuff you broke, which will definitely tick you off.
10. And.....I will never ever understand how anyone bought into the lie that pleated pants and/or tapered pants are flattering.

Colorblind? No.

Several weeks ago, on a trip to Walmart, my 3 year old said to the check-out lady, "I really like your colors. Your arm is pretty." My heart skipped a few beats as I looked up to see the response on her face. You see, this woman was African-American. I can't tell you how thankful I am that she understood my son was giving her a very high compliment. I have mulled this incident over and over in my mind. Certainly I am not the first parent with a preschooler who felt the need to audibly verbalize every thought in his precocious head. In looking for methods for explaining races to a preschooler, I came up discouraged and irritated.

It seems the prevailing thought is to teach children to be colorblind. How stupid. (Hang with me here.) That would be like teaching a child that all of his/her toys are green. Of course you could teach your child that everything is green, but she would clearly know that not everything is green and that you are not being forthright with her. One explanation I read proposed that perhaps we aren't different colors at all, but rather varying shades of the same color. I don't really know how I feel about that, so I put the thought on the back-burner. The fact of the matter is we are very afraid of race issues. Do you wonder what would happen if we quit fearing race issues and embraced our different skin colors? This is why I have decided to say a very firm "no" to the theory of teaching my child to be colorblind.

In every other area of life, be it flowers, trees, animals or food, my child is taught to embrace the creativity of our Creator. (Gen 1:27) Why would the subject of race be treated any differently? People come in all sorts of shapes, sizes and colors...and this is a wonderful and beautiful fact! What a creative God I have! A God who does not make us all the same, but creates beautiful hues of skin color. Gorgeous browns that have the sheen of silk, rich olives that radiate in the sun, lovely yellows that set off the richest of colors in a way that no other skin tone possibly could. One popular Christian speaker says, "Let's be color-BLESSED."

Our family sponsors a beautiful young lady who lives in a Kenyan orphanage. We love Esther dearly and have the opportunity to be her 'parents' by way of financially caring for her, sending letters of encouragement and ensuring that her health, her education and her physical needs are met. We pray for her continually and have pictures of her throughout our home. On Mother's Day of this year I received a letter from my Esther. The letter still brings me to tears and is kept with all of her other letters and pictures alongside Jackson and Bryant's baby books. The sentence that gets me every single time I read it is this, "I love you very much, my good parents and I love my brothers, Jackson and Baby Bryant." Jackson asks about Esther quite often. He once asked, "Can my sister have different colors on her than me?" I answered him with an emphatic "Yes!"

After much, much thought on this subject I decided to learn from my child. He sees different skin colors as beautiful. He sees them a blessing and a thing to embrace. Why explain things in any other manner? When my children question me about race my answer will be simple. My answer will be, "God, in His love and creativity, made us all different and that is a very good thing."

For by Him, all things were created... Col 1:16

Crudites

For as long as I can remember, my mom always served a vegetable tray at our holiday dinners. The tray included carrots, celery, cherry tomatoes, pickles and olives. Sometimes mom would even give me the opportunity to arrange the tray. We would usually snack on the 'relish tray' as we waited for the main meal to be served. It was not until I was planning my annual Bastille Day meal that I learned this quaint relish try had a much more impressive name- Crudites. (Pronounced- croodeetay) Doesn't everything sound more refined, expensive and exciting when in French?

Several days ago we were driving to the grocery store for a normal, ho-hum trip. As we were getting into the car, my imaginative Jackson said, "Let's 'tend that your car is a spaceship and we're going to the sky!" Suddenly the ho-hum trip became a much more exciting adventure. This trip was complete with shooting stars, friendly aliens and colorful planets surrounding us. Imaginative 3 year olds sure can make the mundane much more fun! What a great lesson for me. Why do everyday tasks have to be ho-hum? It's sort of like those raw carrots; if you call it a crudite that raw carrot suddenly seems much more exciting than merely a raw carrot.

Everyday has the potential to be extraordinary, even if it is filled with just regular tasks. If you know me, you know that I do not live in a fantasy world nor do I advocate living outside the realm of reality. However, as I have discovered of late, it becomes very easy to fall into a rut of routine. I'll admit, it is awfully tricky to make folding clothes a whole lot of fun, but as Mary Poppins said, "In every job that must be done there is an element of fun, you find the fun and....snap!...the job's a game." It's all in what you make of it. Raw carrots or crudites?

The Men In My Life

The arrival of our new little boy means I am officially outnumbered at our house. 3 boys, 1 girl. Our cat is a girl, but since she seems to be waging war on my carpet and nightly tries to steal my pillow, I'd hardly put her in my camp. Anybody want a cat? Thankfully, all of my boys seem to respect the carpet and none of them have tried to steal my pillow. Stealing sleep is a completely different issue.

Our younger son, Bryant, arrived at 2:45am on February 9th. He has been an absolute joy to our family and we are so very thankful for him. His arrival has caused me to reflect upon some of the wise parenting advice given to me over the years. Shortly after Jackson's arrival, my Grandma Marge wisely told me that I should always be mindful of the fact that I am not raising children, I am raising adults. Digesting these words can cause a new mama to feel quite daunted, but these words have actually given me much courage and purpose.

I'll be the first to admit that being a full-time mommy can sometimes feel a little mundane and purposeless. (Is purposeless a word? You understand what I mean so therefore, it is!) It is in the seemingly purposeless moments of picking up plastic soldiers, cleaning peanut buttery fingerprints off of the table and folding tiny socks that I am reminded of my Grandma's wisdom. As I require Jackson to do more chores around the house I sometimes think, "Gee whiz, this would be so much easier and faster to just do this myself." Then the words remind me that patiently teaching my son to pick up his toys results in far more than the temporary result of a clean home, it results in teaching long-term responsibility and work ethic. Certainly there are more anecdotal examples, but I think you get the idea. Continually reminding myself of my Grandma's wisdom has truly shaped my mothering and makes the seemingly mundane tasks of the day look more like an investment than a mere chore. Isn't that what we are doing, for better or worse, investing in our children's character?

Let us be challenged with the knowledge that everyday events, activities and tasks are opportunities to shape our 'adults in training.' A daunting task? Most certainly! I find myself praying for wisdom quite often. What a precious promise we have in James 1:5 "But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all men generously and without reproach." Let us also be encouraged with the knowledge that the seeds we sow today, seeds that might seem insignificant and tiny, will grow in time.

Ewwww!!!! Termites!!!

When my husband and I moved to our new home in Bluewater Bay we were warmly welcomed to our new neighborhood and then quickly warned about swarm. What is "swarm" you ask? Swarm is when the termites make their yearly visit. We very promptly contacted our pest control company and had our house treated and inspected. The very nice inspector told me that although our house was treated, termites would still show up but would quickly die upon arrival. So when I walked into my kitchen and saw many near-death termites earlier this week, I calmly dealt with the situation. Hahahaha! In reality, I quietly freaked out (didn't want to scare the babies) and called my husband. Kyle did what any sensitive husband would do- he called the pest control man. His statement? "If they're on the floor that means they didn't find a place to nest, but I'll come and check....if mama's not happy ain't nobody happy!"

It may be a cliche phrase, but there is quite a lot of truth in it. Mothers have the ability to set the tone of the home. Let us never underestimate our power and influence as mothers. James Robison sums up this idea best with the following: "Attitude creates atmosphere, atmosphere creates climate and climate creates a culture." Isn't that what we all hope to do? Create a culture through our children? I firmly believe that our homes are the most influential place for children, whether good or bad. Permit me to make Robison's statement as practical as possible. If we, as mothers, have an attitude of complaint we create an atmosphere of discontent and therefore a climate of want which leads to a culture of greed.

Anyone who knows me at all knows that Corrie Ten Boom is one of my personal heroes. What a remarkable and brave woman. During WWII Corrie, along with her elderly father and sister, hid many Jewish families. Unfortunately, they were caught by the Nazis and sent to various Concentration Camps, ending at the notorious Ravensbruck. In her book, The Hiding Place, Ten Boom explains why she was so thankful for the lice and fleas that infested her bunkhouse at the camp. (You'll have to read the book to find out why!) What an amazing attitude in such a deplorable situation. Would anyone look down on her had she complained of the lice and fleas? Probably not. How much more should I be thankful for my day to day life? Thankful for a working washer and dryer. Thankful for the laundry because it means that I have two healthy and growing boys and the means to clothe them. Thankful for the crumbs on the dining room table because it means my family is fed and has a place to eat. Thankful for so, so much.

Many other attitudes could be tested by Robison's thought. What does an attitude of easy frustration cause? What about an attitude of laziness? But what if we, as mothers, committed to having an attitude of grace, mercy, patience, gentleness, understanding and joy? What sort of culture could we produce? Let us not take our jobs lightly. Let us go about our jobs as mothers with great fervor and intention.

"Whatever you do, do it to the glory of God." 1 Cor. 10:31

Back to those pesky and nasty termites. Am I thankful for them? Well, I'm thankful that they aren't nesting in my house. But I bet Mike, our kindly pest control man, is very thankful for our dead termites. After all, those pesky things provide him with a job and for that, I am grateful.

Sorrows Like Sea Billows

Have you ever kept yourself from crying because you just knew that if you started it might not stop? That's me this morning. Everything within me wants to just weep. I don't mean just a few tears, I'm talking about the kind of sobbing that involves the entire body. You see, a friend of mine died yesterday. He fought a very hard 8 month battle with stomach cancer and leaves behind a young wife and infant son. Life on this earth is not fair and sometimes it just downright stinks. Understand my sobbing is not for him, but for his wife and son. I am certain he now resides in Heaven without cancer and therefore I have great joy for him. The extreme sorrow I feel is for his family. As a mother to a little boy who adores his daddy, my heart absolutely breaks at the thought that this little boy won't have his daddy to play with, learn from and adore. As a wife who is madly in love with her husband, my heart bleeds for this young woman.

For as long as I can remember I've always used music as an outlet for my emotions. Of course this is not a new concept. The Bible, along with other ancient texts, shows much evidence that this has been a practice of people for many centuries. Most beloved hymns were written out of trials or sorrows and are rich with comfort through truth. Since learning of my friend's death I have been continually singing the words to the hymn, "It Is Well." The hymn-writer knew great sorrow before penning the words to this hymn. His wife and daughters had just died in a tragic accident at sea. He opens his hymn with the following words:
When peace, like a river, attendeth my way
When sorrows like sea billows roll
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say
It is well, it is well with my soul.

Isn't it interesting that he compares peace to a body of water? I recently learned a little bit about rivers through a Bible study I am in the midst of completing. Rivers aren't really all that peaceful but instead are quite active. Perhaps that is this hymn-writer's point. He knew having peace in his life was a result of an active relationship with Jesus. Furthermore, rivers are always connected to 2 other bodies of water- a source and an outlet. And so it is with peace, it must be connected to a source. The final thought on rivers and peace would be the fact that it is impossible to see the source and the outlet of a river at one time. Unlike an average sized lake, where the boundaries can all be seen in one panoramic sweep, a river's end cannot be seen from a river's beginning. I think peace is much the same way. At the beginning of a trial or season of sorrow we cannot see the end, but if there is a beginning there will be an ending.

A seldom sung, yet beautiful verse from the aforementioned hymn seems the most fitting way to close this post.

For me be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live
If Jordan above me shall roll
No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life
Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul
-Horatio Spafford

Coach Kyle

I can tell you quite a few details about the day I met my husband. He was wearing khaki shorts, brown sandals, a blue shirt with a horizontal yellow stripe across the chest and he looked GOOD. Really, really good. But had someone told me that he would become my husband 22 months later I would have rolled my eyes in response. I completely misjudged him in our initial meeting. Don't judge a book by the cover, right? On the day we married, I knew I truly loved him and there were no doubts in my head or heart. We spent a little over a year having fun, figuring each other out and just enjoying each other's presence. I thought he was just fabulous, but it was not until October 25th, 2007 that I started to completely understand the extent of this.

I woke up on the morning of the 25th and realized I was in labor. Not wanting to wake up my peacefully sleeping husband, I took a shower, started a load of laundry and did a little yoga before waking him. Our drive to the hospital wasn't a silly drama-filled experience as portrayed on tv; instead we were filled with excitement and laughed most of the way there. As labor progressed, we moved from laughing to umm..... well....not laughing.

To fully understand the rest of the story, it is important to note that when people learned we planned on having a natural delivery we were met with all sorts of comments and "advice." Most of the comments centered around how Kyle would not be able to say or do anything right and I would be screaming obscenities at him. Well, we DID deliver naturally and there were NO obscenities and Kyle did EVERYTHING right. I'm sure Kyle's memory is a bit different than mine, but he was a fantastic coach. And when I say "we did deliver..." I truly mean WE. Sure, my body was doing the physical work, but Kyle did a lot of the work too. One thing is really evident in looking at pictures of the hours just after Jackson's birth - Kyle looked exhausted. His emotional, mental and spiritual support through Jackson's delivery was hard work! But more importantly, his support was evidence of God's perfect ability as 'matchmaker.'

We are approaching the last few days of our current pregnancy and although I am not excited about the pain of labor, I am looking forward to the bonding that I get to experience with Kyle. Am I completely smitten with him? Yep! Unashamedly so. My mom often says that marriage must be a team effort. I am so thankful that Kyle is the head coach for Team Olson.

And so, Kyle Olson, I'm awfully glad you made it home in time for us to be together for the delivery of our little boy! I love you and like you more and more each day.

Yes, Westboro Baptist, there is a Savior

Over the centuries many groups have manipulated the message of the Bible to suit their selfish ambitions. Horrible dictators and cult leaders have used its ancient pages to cause great harm to millions. Unfortunately, many church leaders over the centuries have also used the Bible in a multitude of selfish ways. Case in point, Westboro Baptist. There are few groups on earth who disgust me as much as this particular group. My disgust comes from the very fact that they claim to be followers of the same God and the same Savior as me and yet I find no Biblical backing for their actions.

Last Sunday evening my Dad and I were discussing the horrible shooting spree in Arizona. One of us mentioned that it would not be surprising if the people from Westboro made an unwanted appearance at the victims' funerals. Guess what I happened to see on a news website the very next morning? You got it. Westboro plans to demonstrate at the funerals of the victims. Classy. Real classy.

It absolutely turns my stomach to see this hate-filled behavior from anyone, but when it comes from people who claim to share my faith it makes my blood boil. These people have absolutely no Biblical foundation to stand upon. In fact, the Bible says that God is near to the brokenhearted (Psalm 34:18, 147:3) and has sent a Savior to bind up those who are brokenhearted. (Isaiah 61:1) Furthermore, the Jesus Christ I know and read about is a Man of great kindness and is one who GIVES dignity. Perhaps the zealots at Westboro should read a bit more deeply into the story of the adulterous woman. Jesus didn't stand up with hate-filled, condemning signs at the woman's stoning. Just the opposite! Displaying much grace and love, He intervened on her behalf and wisely drew attention to the fact that those men who were so ready to throw stones were not blameless. The fact of the matter is that Jesus was most harsh and critical of the sanctimonious religious leaders who were very quick to condemn and mistreat.

What I most detest about groups like Westboro is that because of their selfish and manipulative motives, these groups completely misrepresent the Gospel of Christ. These people seem to think (based upon their actions) they somehow earned God's love on their own and no one else could possibly attain what they have attained. Well, Westboro Baptist, Christ died for ALL. He died for those you target and prey upon. Christ's love and sacrifice was not contingent upon our goodness, our righteousness or our accomplishments. Nor was His sacrifice contingent upon whether we would accept His offer of salvation. We can ALL stand forgiven at the cross. "God demonstrates His love for us in that while we were STILL SINNERS, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8 Yes, Westboro Baptist, there is a Savior whose forgiveness and love are not contingent upon your opinions.